Easily released belt fastener

ABSTRACT

An easily released belt fastener can be constructed utilizing an elongated body having an opening extending through the body intermediate the ends of the body. A clamping bar is movably mounted on the body so as to extend across the opening adjacent to and parallel to a clamping surface. This clamping bar is mounted in such a manner that it is capable of being moved between a clamping position in which it is spaced from the clamping surface and a non-clamping position in which it is also parallel to the clamping surface but is located further from the clamping surface than in the clamping position. The body is formed so that an end of it may be secured in an operative position in which it can be rotated about an axis which is substantially parallel with the clamping surface. A belt may be inserted through the opening around the clamping bar and between this bar and the clamping surface then back underneath the body along itself. When tension is applied to this belt the clamping bar will be moved to the clamping position. When the body is rotated so as to space the belt from the bottom of the body the belt will be located at an angle such that the tension on the belt will move the clamping bar toward the non-clamping position, releasing the belt so that it can be pulled out of engagement with the body.

REFERENCE TO KNOWN RELATED PATENTS

Carroll U.S. Pat. No. 352,029 -- Hitching Device;

Ritter U.S. Pat. No. 1,515,412 -- Quick Release Fastener;

Morrow, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,549,841 -- Adjustable Quick Release StrapSplice;

Harley U.S. Pat. No. 2,862,271 -- Releasable Buckles;

Hatfield U.S. Pat. No. 3,060,537 -- Quickly Releasable Buckle For SafetyAnd Harness Strap;

Roing U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,058 -- Tightening Device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention set forth in this specification relates to a new andimproved easily released belt fastener. Belt fasteners of thegeneralized category to which this invention pertains are sometimesreferred to as strap clamps, releasable buckles, strap holders, hitchingdevices and tightening devices.

Such belt fasteners are commonly utilized to secure a strap or belt sothat such a belt or strap is held under pressure and so that the tensionon such a belt or strap may be released so that the belt or strap can beremoved from the fastener. Fasteners of this category are and have beenutilized for a wide variety of different diverse purposes. Various knownfasteners of the type indicated herein have in recent years beencommonly utilized in holding the straps or belts used to support varioustypes of scuba equipment on the back of an individual.

It is not considered that known fasteners have been adequate for suchusage because of various factors connected with the use of scubaequipment. A fastener for use in securing belts or straps to hold scubaequipment in place must, of course, be capable of being easily utilizedby a user. Such utilization is considered to involve securing such afastener in an operative position, the placement of a belt or strap usedwith such a fastener under a desired degree of tension, and the releaseof the fastener without difficulty. The latter is particularly importantin the scuba field since on occasion it may be necessary for a user toquickly release scuba gear so as to avoid a hazard or danger.

Another factor which is quite important as far as utilization in thescuba field--and probably in any other field--is cost. A satisfactoryfastener for use in the scuba field must not only be desirable from autilitarian standpoint but it must also be desirable from an economicstandpoint. This is because of the fact that even comparatively smallcost advantages are considered to frequently mark the difference as towhether or not a product is commercially acceptable or not. On occasionsuch cost advantages cannot be achieved in a principal item of equipmentsuch as scuba gear itself but can only be achieved in peripheral itemsused with such equipment such as, for example, in the fasteners utilizedin holding a piece of scuba gear in place.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A broad object of the invention is to provide new and improved easilyreleased belt fasteners. More specifically the invention is intended toprovide belt fasteners: which can be manufactured at a comparativelynominal cost; which are capable of being easily and conveniently securedin operative positions; which permit belt tension to be adjusted withoutsignificant difficulty; and which are capable of being easily andconveniently actuated so as to release a belt. The latter is consideredto be quite important in connection with the presently preferred orintended use of the fasteners of the invention in the scuba field. It isto be understood, however, that these fasteners may be employed in otherapplications.

In accordance with this invention these objectives are achieved byproviding a belt fastener which includes: an elongated body having firstand second ends, sides, a top and a bottom and an opening locatedtherein which extends between the top and the bottom and which is spacedfrom the sides and the ends, a clamping surface means for use inengaging the strap so as to frictionally hold a strap located on thebody so as to extend generally between the sides along the portion ofthe opening closest adjacent to the first end, bearing surface means formovably mounting a clamping bar located on the body adjacent to theopening, a clamping bar having ends, these ends being supported withinthe bearing means so that the bar is capable of being moved between anon-clamping position parallel to and spaced from the clamping surfacemeans and a clamping position in which the clamping bar is parallel toand closer to the clamping surface means than in the non-clampingposition, and an attachment means located on the second end of the bodyfor securing the body in an operative position in which it can berotated generally about an axis which is substantially parallel with theclamping surface means.

With this structure the opening, the clamping bar and the clampingsurface means are all shaped so that when the clamping bar is in thenon-clamping position a belt may be located so as to extend underneaththe first end of the body, beneath the bottom, through the opening tothe top of the body, around the clamping bar, between the clamping barand the clamping surface means then along itself adjacent to the body.The clamping bar is responsive to tension applied to a belt which is solocated so that in response to such tension the clamping bar will bemoved from its non-clamping position to its clamping position. In suchclamping position the clamping bar engages a belt which is so located soas to frictionally hold the belt against movement relative to the body.When a belt is secured in such a position the first end of the body iscapable of being moved relative to the body so as to vary the angularrelationship between the clamping bar and the body so that the tensionon the belt will move the clamping bar to its non-clamping position.Such movement will release the belt to a sufficient extent so that itcan be pulled out of engagement with the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is best more fully explained with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a presently preferred embodiment or form ofa fastener of the present invention in an operative position in which abelt is secured under tension on this fastener;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the belt and fastener shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the fastener shown in the precedingfigures; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric exploded view of portions of parts of thefasteners shown in the preceding figures.

The precise construction illustrated in the drawing embodies certainessentially intangible features and/or principles of the invention asare set forth in the appended claims. Through the use or exercise ofroutine engineering skill in the fastener industry these principles orfeatures can be easily adapted so as to be utilized in a variety ofsomewhat differently appearing and differently constructed fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawing there is shown a belt fastener 10 constructed inaccordance with this invention so as to be utilized in securing a belt12 so that this belt 12 is held under tension. The belt 12 may beconstructed in any convenient known manner. It is considered thatnormally the belt 12 will be an elongated fabric belt formed out of apolymer material, such as a polyolefin. As far as the operation of thefastener is concerned the construction of the belt 12 is substantiallyimmaterial. It is, however, considered significant that the fastener 10operates satisfactorily even when the belt 12 is manufactured out of acomparatively "slick" material such as polypropylene, polyethylene andthe like manufactured into a webbing type structure by various knowntechniques.

The fastener 10 includes an elongated body 14 having a first end 16, asecond end 18, a top 20, a bottom 22, and spaced parallel sides 24. Thisentire body 14 is preferably integrally formed out of a comparativelystrong, inert, rigid material such as common ABS polymer material so asto include a rod 26 extending between the sides 24 so as to define aninternal opening 28 located between the ends 16 and 18 and the sides 24and extending between the top 20 and the bottom 22. The rod 26 is formedso as to include a surface 30 generally facing the second end 18. Thissurface 30 may be referred to as a clamping surface or a clampingsurface means because of its function as hereinafter described.

Aligned bearing openings or means 32 are also formed in the sides 24adjacent to and spaced from the rod 26. These bearing openings 32 havearcuate bottoms 34 spaced from the top 20 and walls 36 which convergetoward one another as they extend from the bottoms 34. These walls 36intersect the top 20 along the sides 24 so as to define entrances 38 tothe openings 32 which are of smaller dimension than these openings 32.These bearing openings 32 are constructed in this manner so that ends 40of a clamping bar 42 may be snapped into the bearing openings 32 in sucha manner that the bar 42 is movably held upon the body 14.

These ends 40 generally conform in shape to the shapes of the bearingopenings 32 but are slightly smaller in dimension than the bearingopenings 32 so as to permit the bar 42 to be moved or "rocked" relativeto the clamping surface 30 between a clamping position in which this bar42 is parallel to and spaced from the surface 30 and a parallelnon-clamping position in which the bar 42 is located further from thesurface 30 than in the clamping position. Shoulders 44 on the bar 42adjacent to the ends 40 prevent the bar 42 from being moved linearlyrelative to the body 14. The comparatively restricted dimensions of theentrances 38 of course serve to secure the bar 42 on the body 14.

It is to be noted that with the preferred embodiment of the inventionthe bar 42 is located so as to extend from the top 20 beneath this top20 while the rod 26 is located adjacent to the bottom 22 so as to extendupwardly from this bottom 22. With this construction edges 46 and 48 onthe rod 26 and on the bar 42, respectively, are located closely adjacentto one another approximately midway between the top 20 and the bottom 22so that the spacing of these edges 46 and 48 will be varied as thefastener 10 is used and as the bar 42 is moved between the two positionsindicated in the preceding.

In one manner of use an end 50 of the belt 12 will be formed into a loopby this end 50 being passed through the opening 28 adjacent to the end18 and then secured to the length of the belt 12 by appropriatestitching 52. This manner of attachment is used so that the fastener 10may be rotated about an axis which is substantially parallel to theclamping surface 30 when the fastener 10 is used. Other equivalent meansof mounting the fastener 10 can, of course, by employed. There is nonecessity that the end 18 even be secured to a belt used with thefastener 10.

The particular belt 12 also includes another end 54 which is passedbeneath the bottom 22, around the bar 42, then generally between theedges 46 and 48 along the surface 30 and back generally across or aroundthe rod 26 so as to extend beneath the body 14 along the first end 16.With this structure the end 54 is in effect held in contact with thebottom 22 of the body 14 by the belt 12 itself. It will be realized thatthis end 54 can only be installed in an operative position as describedwhen the bar 42 is in a non-clamping position in which it is generallyspaced from the surface 30 to as great an extent as reasonably possible.

Once the end 54 has been located in an operative position as describedthe belt 12 may be placed under tension by either pulling on the end 54and/or by pulling on the belt 12 itself adjacent to the end 54. Astension is applied such tension will cause very limited movement of thebar 42 toward the surface 30 so as to place the edges 46 and 48 in closeproximity to one another. As such movement is accomplished the bar 42will be moved to what is referred to in the preceding as its clampingposition. In such position there is adequate friction between the belt12 and the body 14 and between the belt 12 and the bar 42 so as tosecure the belt 12 so that it is held under tension.

By lifting the first end 16 so as to pivot the body 14 relative to theend 50 the angle at which the belt 12 extends in the vicinity of the bar42 will be changed to a sufficient extent so that the tension on thebelt 12 will tend to move the bar 42 to what is referred to in thepreceding as a non-clamping position. In this position of the belt 12the friction on the belt 12 is released to a sufficient extent so thatthe end 54 may be conveniently pulled from the body 14 so as to free thebelt 12 from the fastener 10 through the use of minimal force.

It is believed that it will be obvious from the preceding that thefastener 10 is a comparatively simple, effective device capable of beingeasily and conveniently manufactured at a comparatively nominal cost.This particular fastener 10 is formed so that the first end 16 is of asubstantially "V" like configuration which is considered to facilitatemanual engagement and movement of this end 16. Obviously the first end16 may conveniently be manufactured so as to have a somewhat differentappearance. The body 14 is constructed so that the second end 18 servesas a means for attaching the body 14 so that it is in an operativeposition. Separate conventional means (not shown) can, if desired, beemployed for this purpose although this is not considered desirablebecause of cost considerations.

The particular fastener 10 is considered to be especially desirablebecause it utilizes a minimum of material and because the two separateparts of this fastener 10--the body 14 and the bar 42--may be easily andconveniently manufactured and assembled together. When they are soassembled they are used in such a manner that the angular and frictionalrelationships can be utilized to secure a belt such as the belt 12firmly in place in such a manner that the belt 12 may be easily andquickly released. The latter is considered quite important in the scubafield.

I claim:
 1. An easily released belt fastener which comprises:anelongated body having first and second ends, sides, a top and a bottom,said body also having an opening located therein which extends betweensaid top and said bottom and which is spaced from said sides and saidends, clamping surface means for use in engaging a strap so as tofrictionally hold such a strap, said clamping surface means beinglocated on said body so as to extend generally between said sides alongthe portion of said opening closest adjacent to said first end, bearingmeans for movably mounting a clamping bar located on said body adjacentto said opening and to said clamping surface means, said bearing meanscomprising bearing openings extending through the top of each side andhaving an enlarged shaped opening portion in each side, a clamping barhaving ends, said ends being shaped for limited rocking movement in saidshaped opening portions and being supported within said bearing means sothat said bar is capable of being moved between a non-clamping positionparallel to and spaced from said clamping surface means and a clampingposition in which said clamping bar is parallel to and closer to saidclamping surface means than in said non-clamping position, and, saidclamping bar and said clamping surface means being located adjacent tosaid top and to said bottom, respectively, so as to have adjacent edgeswhich are capable of being moved relative to one another as saidclamping bar is moved between said clamping and said non-clampingpositions, attachment means located on said second end of said body foruse in securing said body in an operative position in which said bodycan be rotated generally about an axis which is substantially parallelwith said clamping surface means, said opening, said clamping bar andsaid clamping surface means being shaped so that when said clamping baris in said non-clamping position a belt may be located so as to extendunderneath said first end of said body, beneath said bottom, throughsaid opening to said top, around said clamping bar, between saidclamping bar and said clamping surface means and then along itselfadjacent to said bottom, said clamping bar being movable in response totension applied to a belt which is so located so that as tension isapplied to such a belt said clamping bar is moved from said non-clampingposition to said clamping position, said clamping bar engaging a beltwhich is so located in said clamping position so as to hold said beltagainst movement relative to said body, when said body is secured in anoperative position by said attachment means said first end of said bodybeing capable of being moved so as to vary the angular relationshipbetween said clamping bar and said body to a sufficient extent so thatthe tension on the belt will move said clamping bar to said non-clampingposition, releasing such a belt so that it can be pulled out ofengagement with said body.
 2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1wherein:said shaped opening portions are each shaped so as to includearcuate bottoms and converging walls which lead to the top of said bodyso as to define restricted entrances into said openings, said ends ofsaid clamping bar are shaped to correspond to the shape of said bearingopenings and are smaller than said bearing openings so as to permitmovement of said clamping bar between said clamping and said nonclampingpositions, said ends and said bearing openings being so shaped so thatsaid clamping bar can rock back and forth when it is moved between saidpositions.